The development policy priorities of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia form the basis for the state government's development policy activities. The priorities place the development policy work of the state government in the context of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Development policy engagement thrives above all on a vibrant, strong civil society. North Rhine-Westphalia has an extraordinarily diverse landscape in this regard. In order to take account of the new international political realities, the state government has undertaken to further develop its development policy strategy. The strengthening of civil society activities is also to be reflected in it. The basis for this is the "Future Contract for North Rhine-Westphalia 2022 - 2027".
North Rhine-Westphalia maintains diverse international relations and is committed to development policy, especially in countries and regions with which the state has special ties. Ghana has been North Rhine-Westphalia's partner country since 2007, and a partnership with North Macedonia has existed since 2021.
Further information on the country partnership with Ghana (Link)
Further information on the country partnership with North Macedonia (Link)
Further information on North Rhine-Westphalia's engagement in the Middle East, the Maghreb and South Africa (Link)
The Concrete Peace Service is a support program for young adults from North Rhine-Westphalia. The program offers a travel allowance for diverse project assignments lasting between 25 days and twelve weeks. The participants plan their stays abroad on their own and cooperate on an equal footing with organizations in the countries of the global South. In addition, there are cooperative arrangements within the framework of the Concrete Peace Service that enable young professionals such as craftsmen and craftswomen or trainees in the caring professions to take part in a project abroad. A mutual exchange to strengthen civil society actors in the global South is also an integral part of the Concrete Peace Service.
With the program to promote information and education work on development policy (EpIB), the state supports the development policy education work of One World groups and non-governmental organizations in North Rhine-Westphalia. The aim is to create an awareness of global interrelationships among the people of North Rhine-Westphalia, to deepen knowledge of the situation in countries of the global South, to prevent xenophobia and to awaken in citizens a willingness to make their own contribution to just global development.
Development education work is also supported by the state government through the promoter program, which ensures a basic supply of civil society with expertise in this field. The program is implemented by One World organizations throughout North Rhine-Westphalia. The One World Network NRW and Engagement Global, North Rhine-Westphalia Office (Düsseldorf) are the promoters. Further information can be found at: einewelt-promotorinnen.de.
In line with the development policy priorities of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, municipal development cooperation is also promoted. Municipalities can make a very concrete and essential contribution to development partnerships - for example, when it comes to raising awareness of development policy and international contexts and the reciprocal effect of local action on the global world and vice versa. Municipal development partnerships build an important bridge between the people in North Rhine-Westphalia and those in the partner municipalities. The state government would like to support the municipalities in aligning their tasks with the principles of the 2030 Agenda in order to live up to their global responsibility.
With its foreign program, the state government supports development policy projects of non-governmental organizations from North Rhine-Westphalia. The program supports One World initiatives, associations, migrant organizations, church groups and others that work in cooperation with partner organizations in the Global South to sustainably improve local living conditions. The program focuses on education, health, ecological sustainability as well as sustainable management and the creation of employment.
With 26 United Nations (UN) organizations, the Federal City of Bonn is Germany's most important UN location and a unique center of excellence for international cooperation and sustainable development. In addition, more than 170 internationally active institutions, scientific and economic institutions as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations are dedicated to the urgent development policy and sustainability issues of our time. They include the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Engagement Global (EG) or the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS). In implementing its development policy goals, the state government also cooperates with the North Rhine-Westphalia Foundation for Environment and Development (SUE), which is also based in Bonn. In close cooperation with the federal government and the city, the state government promotes the development of Bonn by, among other things, locating new UN secretariats and other international organizations, as well as by organizing events, various conference formats and projects that help to promote exchange on global sustainability issues.
The "North Rhine-Westphalian Academy for International Politics" (https://www.aia-nrw.org/de/) in Bonn, founded on the initiative of the state government in 2021, is a further expression of the state's multifaceted commitment to supporting the expansion of Bonn as an international location and, at the same time, actively seeking an international exchange on crucial issues of the future.